This green baby registry checklist includes the best green baby must-haves, tips to create your green baby registry, plus a free printable checklist so you won’t forget anything, even with pregnancy brain!
W hen I first saw the five-page registry checklists from Bump.com and Target, I was shocked. Would my baby really need all that stuff?
What if every one of the over 4 million babies born in the U.S. every year got a complete set of all that new stuff?
Thank goodness the answer is, no!
First, I drastically reduced that baby registry list of baby “must haves”. Then I tried to find as many great-quality baby items as possible to reuse.
For what remained, I did a ton of research looking for the best green baby products that really work well.
Here’s what I discovered, including my top strategies for greening your baby registry and below that, my Green Baby Registry Checklist full of green and natural baby must-haves.
Don’t forget to download a free printable copy at the end of this post. It fits on one page (not five).
After two babies, I can confidently say this has worked great for our family. I added some blank spaces for you to write in your own must-haves, too.
This post contains affiliate links.
3 Tips to Green Your Baby Registry
1. Co-sleep
To be honest, I didn’t have much of a choice about co-sleeping, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Living in a one-bedroom there is really no place for baby to go but in our room.
This is a perfect excuse for anyone who wants to give me a hard time about co-sleeping.
When there is no nursery to outfit, so many items are suddenly unnecessary: crib, bumpers, mattress, dresser, changing table, and on the list goes. Not only is less stuff more green, but it also makes having a baby much more affordable!
I am a light sleeper, so I knew if I had baby in bed with me full time I’d be getting even less sleep than I already am with three feedings a night.
Getting an Arms Reach Co-Sleeper that joins up with the side of our bed was the perfect solution.
I love that it converts from a bassinet to a full-size play yard, so it grows with baby, even further reducing the amount of stuff you need.
2. Cloth Diaper
The first week of Baby’s life we used chlorine free disposables. They had a handy cut out for the cord, and we didn’t want to deal with getting the meconium out of cloth while adjusting to life as new parents.
A week of watching DH carry sacks of used disposables to the dumpster and I had enough. I just know all my diapers from baby-hood are still sitting in a landfill somewhere, and that is really not something I wanted to pass on to the next generation.
The good news is, we love our simple cloth diapering system.
Beyond just cloth diapers there are several other traditionally disposable baby must-haves that have a reusable alternative.
Instead of disposable wipes, we use cloth. Instead of garbage bags, we use washable diaper pail liners to hold used diapers. We have small wet bags to hold used diapers when we’re on the go. I even use washable nursing pads.
3. Register on Amazon
I registered with Amazon Baby Registry because their Universal Wishlist Button allows you to add products from any site on the web to your list.
That way you can select the greenest of all the products out there, even if they’re not available on Amazon.
The really great thing about this is that it allows you to add handmade green items from Etsy. There’s no better feeling than supporting the small businesses on Etsy and receiving their beautiful one-of-a-kind creations.
If you want to add something from Etsy, I recommend contacting the shop owner to set up a reserve listing for you. That way when your friends and family go to purchase it, you know it will still be available. Keep in mind listings on Etsy last only four months.
Green Baby Registry – Natural Baby Registry Checklist
Layette
- Gentle Laundry Detergent – I used to make my own, but now I use Charlie’s Soap Laundry Liquid.
Nursery
- Co-sleeper or Play Yard with removable bassinet – I love Arm’s Reach Original
- Organic Cotton Waterproof PlayYard Pad
- 2 Fitted Organic Pack N Play Sheets
- 2-4 Receiving blankets
- Baby Monitor
- Teething Toys – Everybody loves Sophie!
- Cloth Grasping Toys
- Board Books
- Puppets – That just sounds like fun!
Changing
- Changing Table Pad – We have this one.
- 2-3 Changing Table Pad Covers
- 2 Washable Cloth Diaper Pail Liners
- 3 Dozen Organic Cloth Baby Wipes
- Container for Cloth Wipes
- Organic Cotton Cloth Diapers – 1 dozen per day for newborn size, buy as many as you need depending on how often you plan to wash.
- Diaper Covers – 3-4 per dozen diapers
Bath
- 6 Soft Washcloths
- 2 Organic Hooded Baby Towels
Feeding
- 4-8 Bibs
- 1-2 Dozen Organic Burp Cloths
- 6-8 pairs Washable Nursing Pads
- Nipple Cream
- Nursing Cover
Medicine Cabinet
- Baby Nail clippers or Blunt Scissors
- Thermometer
- Nasal Aspirator – Nosefrida Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator is amazing! I really like that it’s washable.
- Hyland’s Teething Tabs
Travel
- Car Seat – We’ve bought this carseat for both of our kids because it can be used rear facing up to 40 pounds and forward facing up to 65 pounds.
- Stroller – We have this stroller and love it. It’s the only stroller I need, it goes anywhere and is compact when folded.
- Diaper bag
- Changing Pad
- 2 Small Washable Wet Bags
- Wipes Holder
- Baby Carrier – I love the Boba 4G, Ergo Baby Carrier (Organic), and Moby Wrap.
- Sun Shade – for the car window
Click here to download my free Baby Registry Checklist printable.
How did you green your baby registry checklist?
Title image from Caitlinator on Flikr.
